Breaking up is hard. What is even harder is being friends after the break up. And the difficulty level increases by a few notches if you want to stay friends after a BAD breakup. Here are some ways to do so.

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Steps

1

Give each other some time. Let's face it, time does heal wounds. You guys can't have had a great fight and break up because one of you cheated and expect to be buddies again the very next day. Chances are, your ex would probably be hating your guts. Rushing things could make them hate your guts even more and whatever chance of becoming friends in the future could be wiped out if you force them to take you back as a friend now.

Give them time alone. Don't call them everyday or text them every hour. Some people think they want to let the other person know how sorry they are so they write letters and send messages the next day but chances are the person will be so pissed that they would just tear up the letters without reading them anyway.

Maybe after a week or a month, you can try to give them a letter or a mail telling them how sorry you are and your intentions of staying as friends but try to do so after a period of time when you feel like both of you should have calmed down sufficiently.

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2

Apologise. It takes two hands to clap. No relationship ends or lasts because of one person. You two need to take responsibility for your own actions and apologise for them. (Unless of course if the person is a pathological liar, cheater etc, then the only fault you have is that you fell for them- if that is the case don't bother being friends, just leave that person to rot by themselves.) Apologies are the hardest thing to do after a quarrel when both of you are so angry at each other and pushing the blame to one another; but this is the first step to becoming friends again.

Admit your mistake. Look at your own thoughts and actions and acknowledge that you did do something wrong.

Apologise for the mistake. No, saying "sorry" is not it. Say out what you are sorry for, specifically.

Don't go back to playing the blame game again if the other person doesn't say sorry back to you; not many people are mature or brave enough to do so. Thumbs up if you manage to leave your comfort zone and apologise first. You've done your part, now the ball is in their court.

3

Make your intentions known to them. If you want to be friends say so. Note that this is done after the first two steps are completed. The other person cannot read your mind. If you've been ignoring each other for the past month or year, you can't know if they actually want to call you up but don't dare to right? Take matters into your own hands. It might be a year or even two, the longer the better.

If it's been a month, chances are they are not totally over things. If they contact you first GREAT. Tell them your intentions. If not I advise you to wait a little longer.

If it's been a year or two, you can try texting them, facebooking, emailing or even snail-mailing them. Ask them how they have been and whether they want to catch up. If they are still curt to you then make it clear to them that you really want to be friends with them.

4

Don't count on it. At the end of the day you two might not be ready to be friends. Some people are never ready to forgive. There may be a chance that both of you may never be friends ever again, but don't worry. If they don't want you in their lives, what's so great about them that you need them in yours? You've given them a chance to be friends with you, if they are going to give that chance up, chances are, they aren't worth your efforts or your friendship in the first place.

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